Millions of hungry Americans need your help!

A proposed rule change announced by the Trump administration last Tuesday would deny food assistance to millions of Americans and tens of thousands of Illinois residents. The proposed change would directly impact individuals receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and millions of school children across the country who receive free/reduced lunches.  

What is at risk is something called ‘categorical eligibility’ options for BBCE:

The purpose of broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) – which the administration’s proposal seeks to restrict – is to streamline the process by which families’ eligibility for SNAP is determined. This policy makes it easier for families in need to receive food assistance and allows state agencies to run more efficiently. Categorical eligibility allows states to designate a household as meeting SNAP’s income eligibility requirement if the household’s eligibility for another means-tested program has already been established. As a result, if individuals receive transportation or childcare assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), for example, they’d also be considered eligible for SNAP benefits. Giving low-income families more hoops to jump through hurts their chances for a better life. In addition, thousands of school-age children in those households would no longer be automatically eligible for free school meals through their receipt of SNAP benefits.
-Greater Chicago Food Depository

We need your help in opposing this rule change. In one of the only truly bi-partisan pieces of legislation last year (the Farm Bill), Congress rejected this very proposal, knowing that it would increase hunger for over 3 million people.

How you can help:

1. Take action and comment now. The public is allowed 60 days to submit a comment opposing the rule.  Act now - the comment period ends on Sept. 23rd.

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has set up a comment form with suggested language to use.  You can also comment directly on the Federal Register website below. 

2. Share this action alert with your network: LINK. It is vital that we generate a significant volume of comments in opposition to the rule. 

Want to learn more? Greater Chicago Food Depository has answers to frequently asked questions about categorical eligibility and the impact of the proposed rule. Categorical Eligibility FAQs

Thank you for helping the fight against hunger!